fanciful devices

A Stone Is Nobody's

A man ambushed a stone. Caught it.
Made it a prisoner.
Put it in a dark room and stood guard over it for the rest of his life.

His mother asked why.

He said, because it's held captive, because it is captured.

Look, the stone is asleep, she said, it does not know whether it's in a garden or not. Eternity and the stone
are mother and daughter; it is you who are getting old. The stone is only sleeping.

But I caught it, mother, it is mine by conquest, he said.

A stone is nobody's, not even its own. It is you who are conquered; you are minding the prisoner, which is yourself,
because you are afraid to go out, she said.

Yes yes, I am afraid, because you have never loved me, he said.

Which is true, because you have always been to me as the stone is to you, she said.

Russell Edson

FAQs

1. Are you a Southeast Asian dancing girl from the 1800s?

No, sorry to disappoint. My avatar and banner images are from an ancient book I found in the depths of my grandmother's cabinets. More on that here.

2. How do you make everything look so old?

First, you need a good oxidizer to brush on every bit of metal you can reach. I'll tell you all about it here.

Then there's this wax. I first mentioned it here. You'll have to scroll down a lot.

3. How can you be so productive?

I'm insanely obsessed and I have no offspring. I do nothing else- I don't have a day job, I don't clean my house or cook, I spend all day in pjs, often completely abandoning personal hygiene... I only interact with other humans when I walk my dog. And I like people! But I prefer dogs.

And I'm sloppy- but I make that sloppiness work for me.

4. Any tips you'd like to share?

No! Except for these 16 posts about techniques and this one about how to find your aesthetic.

5. Would you be offended if I took some inspiration from your designs?

Well, I'd be happier if you outright copied them.

No really, imitation is how we learn. I have enough ideas to go around. And even if I don't- please. No one's going to do this obsessively enough to threaten my business. (Probably.) I learned by copying others and I've seen others copy me as a step toward developing their own voice. So feel free. (I'd love if you tossed me a link in my comments, so I can feel like a proud momma.)

6. What do you look like?

Why, what have you heard? Really? Wow.

4/26/12

This is one o' my favorite MIA songs, who is maybe my favorite maker o' music ever. But I actually don't like the whole bit before 0:52.

Wait did I say no more blog posts? And you believed me? Dork.

(These are tintypes. Well they're one tintype. I cut and sanded... and flicked paint at, because I just wanted to. Backed it up with a strip of tin to strengthen.)

(Roman glass. I'm concerned these earwires are too thick and the copper too soft...)

"One popular human strategy for dealing with difficulty is autosuggestion: when something nasty pops up, you convince yourself it is not there, or you convince yourself it is pleasant rather than unpleasant. The Buddha’s tactic is quite the reverse. Rather than hide it or disguise it, the Buddha’s teaching urges you to examine it to death. Buddhism advises you not to implant feelings that you don’t really have or avoid feelings that you do have. If you are miserable you are miserable; that is the reality, that is what is happening, so confront that. Look it square in the eye without flinching. When you are having a bad time, examine that experience, observe it mindfully, study the phenomenon and learn its mechanics. The way out of a trap is to study the trap itself, learn how it is built. You do this by taking the thing apart piece by piece. The trap can’t trap you if it has been taken to pieces. The result is freedom."

- Henepola Gunaratana, Mindfulness in Plain English

I painted these pearls. They're not real. They're imaginary.

This is so good except that Timbaland had to appear at all.

Dunno why I've never shared her w/y'all before. So many mysterious facets of me you don't know about- like, did you know, I bite my toenails? I am not kidding. My fam was just thanking me for not doing it in front of them anymore. It's super yummy.

So I'm thinking listing these so soon before leaving is a waste of time? Thoughts?

(I've totally used these earwires before. You haven't been studying my every move like a real stalker would. *sniffs* And since I can't keep anything from y'all: here and here.)

Is there anything else I needed to say? Or am I just putting off the cleaning I'm supposed to be doing?

12 comments:

Thyme2bee2 said...: love it all; 4/27/12, 12:41 AM
Anonymous said...: Yeah it's a little leprachaun...all cheesy and rusty, makes me so happy. Lovin' your other goodies, just digesting the details. Safe journey, happy hunting. Music.. I'm just off to find me an amp and turn it up to 11.; 4/27/12, 1:43 AM
Penelope said...: Haha you listen to such different music to me while makin' junk- I almost never listen to dancy stuff. It's classical/film scores or 70s/80s cock rock for me. Or Bollywood, if it's good.

Wait wait- those earwires on the last pair!!! WHERE!? I NEED. Oh I'll just convo you. Nothing is a waste of time.; 4/27/12, 4:12 AM
Beatnheart said...: The toenail thing kept me awake last night.; 4/27/12, 9:25 AM
Spirited Earth said...: ooh love.love that white leg necklace.
uh..what Beatnheart said-ditto... you must be very limber; 4/27/12, 10:45 AM
JenHoney said...: You're blowing my mind, fanci....as always. I'm trying to figure out the first pair of earrings....did you somehow transfer print that or did you find some metal that already had creepy, perfectly rusted portraits on it? I know I'm not sposta be asking questions when you're overwhelmed and getting ready for a trip, but...I did. And how the craphat do you consistently get so much done?; 4/27/12, 11:08 AM
darlene said...: leprachaun ~big smile~. love those earwires with the golden earrings. beauty.; 4/27/12, 11:58 AM
Tribalis said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 4/27/12, 8:16 PM
Tribalis said...: Oh! Mysterious woman, what else you have that we don't know??.. we want penetrate into the intimacy of your secrets!..(do you see? This is the "penis necklace effect"!)
Ha,ha!
Please, talking about p.., take photos of some handsome Uruguayans and post here when you return.
(p.s.: I AM a faithful wife!!!!)..

Have a good and safe trip!
And..Wow!! your soul is Latin American!

"Sangue Latino
Ney Matogrosso

Jurei mentiras
E sigo sozinho
Assumo os pecados
Uh! Uh! Uh! Uh!

Os ventos do norte
Não movem moinhos
E o que me resta
É só um gemido

Minha vida, meus mortos
Meus caminhos tortos
Meu Sangue Latino
Uh! Uh! Uh! Uh!
Minh'alma cativa

Rompi tratados
Traí os ritos
Quebrei a lança
Lancei no espaço
Um grito, um desabafo

E o que me importa
É não estar vencido
Minha vida, meus mortos
Meus caminhos tortos
Meu Sangue Latino
Minh'alma cativa.."; 4/27/12, 8:41 PM
Lela said...: Love the white necklace...and yeah...the toenail thing. Ugh.; 4/28/12, 10:46 AM
martinisfor2 said...: As always, love your new creations. My faves are the tintype earrings. I love when I find cool creepy ones. I haven't used any yet though. I also love the bell necklace. We have them all over our house, inside and out in all shapes and sizes. One of the cats thinks it's cool to ring the ones he can reach.

I'm with beatnheart though......the toenail thing is absoulutely creepy. The picture that popped into my mind gave me the heebie jeebies.

Safe journeys on your trip. We all anxiously await your return to see your treasures.; 4/28/12, 5:22 PM
Petra Carpreau said...: Finally I can see pictures again! Adore those tintypes - you've probably been making loads, and I just haven't been able to see them. I imagine i've probably missed about 100 posts while my stoopid computer has been being a shit. far too depressing a thought, so i shall just attempt to pick up the pieces from here. I hope you're having a great adventure!; 5/14/12, 11:32 AM